Cosmetic sticks

ABSTRACT

Stable, single phase soap gel cosmetic stick compositions comprising a polyhydric aliphatic alcohol, an ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide condensation product and soap. Such cosmetic sticks are easily processed as well as being stable.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No.123,238 filed February 21, 1980 which is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Serial No. 066,710 filed August 15, 1979, both nowabandoned.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to cosmetic compositions in the form ofsolid sticks. The compositions herein comprise a polyhydric alcohol, anethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide condensation product and soap.

BACKGROUND ART

Attempts have been made to realize cosmetic sticks which deliver activeingredients to the skin such as deodorant materials via a vehicle whichglides easily over the skin surface and which imparts a coolingsensation to the skin both during and after application. Soap/alcoholgels can provide such cosmetic benefits. Examples of soap gels aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,732,327 Jan. 24, 1956 to Teller; U.S. Pat.No. 2,857,315, Oct. 21, 1958 to Teller; U.S. Pat. No. 2,900,306, Aug.18, 1959 to Slater; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,970,083, Jan. 31, 1961 to Bell.

While soap gels are old as evidenced by the above patents, such gels arenot completely satisfactory. Generally, soap gels require considerabletime to set up and often exhibit syneresis at elevated temperatures.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide cosmeticsoap gel sticks which have reduced set-up times and syneresis whilebeing aesthetically pleasing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide cosmeticsticks which, when a perfume is present, have greater perfume scent onthe skin than in the package.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such cosmeticsticks which effectively deliver deodorant materials to the skin.

It has been surprisingly discovered that the above objectives can berealized by formulating a stick comprising the ingredients describedbelow.

All percentages used herein are by weight of the total compositionunless otherwise designated.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to cosmetic stick compositions comprisingfrom about 6% to about 70% of a polyhydric aliphatic alcohol, from about3% to about 10% of a soap and from about 20% to about 80% of an ethyleneoxide and/or propylene oxide condensation product.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The essential elements of the cosmetic gel sticks of the presentinvention as well as optional components, composition preparation, andcomposition use are discussed in detail below:

POLYHYDRIC ALIPHATIC ALCOHOL

An essential component of the present cosmetic gel stick compositions isa polyhydric aliphatic alcohol containing 2 or 3 carbon atoms and from 2to 3 hydroxyl groups. The polyhydric aliphatic alcohol component of thestick comprises from about 6% to about 70%, preferably from about 15% to70%, by weight of the composition.

Suitable polyhydric alcohols for use in the gel compositions hereininclude ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, andglycerine. The most preferred polyol is propylene glycol.

SOAP

Another essential component of the compositions herein is a gel formingagent. The gel forming agents used herein can be the sodium andpotassium salts (i.e. soaps) of fatty acids containing from about 14 to18 carbon atoms.

Soaps generally comprise from about 3% to about 10% by weight,preferably from about 4% to about 8% by weight of the composition. Ifsoap concentrations lower than those specified are employed, the gelsformed tend to be dimensionally unstable and tend to deform atsummertime temperatures. If concentrations of soap above those specifiedare utilized, the gels formed tend to be too hard and do not exhibitdesirable glide and application characteristics.

The fatty acid portion of the soap gel forming agents should beessentially pure saturated or unsaturated higher fatty acids having aC₁₄ to C₁₈ backbone. Suitable mixtures of such acids can be employedprovided that such mixtures are free from significant proportions ofother fatty acids of higher or lower chain length which substantiallyadversely affect or neutralize the desired gel forming effects.

Examples of fatty acids useful in synthesizing the gel forming agentsherein include myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic,margaric and the mixtures of such acids. Naturally occurring sources ofsuch fatty acids include coconut oil, beef tallow, lanolin, fish oil,beeswax, palm oil, peanut oil, olive oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil,corn oil, rapeseed oil, rosin acids, and greases. Conventionalfractionation and/or hydrolysis techniques can be employed if necessaryto obtain the requisite types of fatty acids from such materials.

Preferred fatty acid soap type gel forming agents include sodiumstearate, sodium palmitate, potassium stearate, potassium palmitate andsodium myristate. The most preferred gel forming agent is sodiumstearate.

Ethylene Oxide and/or Propylene Oxide Condensation Product

Still another essential component of the present composition is anethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide condensation product having thefollowing formula:

    R(OC.sub.3 H.sub.6).sub.a (OC.sub.2 H.sub.4).sub.b OH

wherein R is either hydrogen or a hydrocarbon chain having from about 2to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from about 4 to 18, a and b are each from0 to 35 and a+b is from 5 to 35.

Examples of such products are a condensate of about 14 moles ofpropylene oxide with about one mole of butyl alcohol sold by UnionCarbide under the name Fluid AP®; a polypropylene glycol having amolecular weight of 1200; a polyethylene glycol having a molecularweight of 420; a condensate of 20 moles of ethylene oxide and 5 moles ofpropylene oxide with one mole of cetyl alcohol; and a condensate of 15moles of propylene oxide with one mole of stearyl alcohol. The preferredcondensate is Fluid AP®.

The condensate product is present in the compositions of the presentinvention at a level of from about 20% to about 80%, preferably fromabout 30% to about 70% by weight of the composition.

OPTIONAL COMPONENTS

The instant stick compositions can contain a variety of optionalingredients suitable for improving composition efficacy, stability,cosmetics and/or aesthetics. Such optional components include deodorantmaterial, perfumes, dyes, pigments, coloring agents and the like.

A highly preferred optional component of the instant compositions is amaterial which helps retard alcohol evaporation and which acts as anantisyneresis agent. Especially preferred materials of this type arecellulose derivatives such as hydroxyalkylcelluloses. Especiallypreferred materials of this type are hydroxypropylcellulose compoundshaving the chemical formula: ##STR1## and wherein N is sufficientlylarge such that the total molecular weight of the material ranges fromabout 60,000 to 1,000,000. Such materials are sold under the tradenameof Klucel® by Hercules Incorporated. If present, such alcoholevaporation retarding agents and anti-syneresis agents comprise fromabout 0.1% to 5.0% by weight of the composition.

Another optional ingredient of the instant compositions is aconventional deodorant material. Suitable deodorants includebacteriostatic quaternary ammonium compounds such ascetyl-trimethylammonium bromide, cetyl pyridinium chloride, benzethoniumchloride, diisobutyl phenoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammoniumchloride, N-alkylpyridinium chloride, N-cetyl pyridinium bromide, sodiumN-lauroyl sarcosine, sodium N-palmitoyl sarcosine, lauroyl sarcosine,N-myristoyl glycine, potassium N-lauroyl sarcosine and stearyltri-methyl ammonium chloride. If present, deodorants generally comprisefrom about 0.1% to 1.0% by weight of the composition.

Another optional component is a short chain monohydric alcohol in anamount from about 0.1% to about 50.0%, preferably from about 1.0% toabout 40.0%. Suitable alcohols include methanol, ethanol, N-propanol andisopropanol. The preferred alcohol is ethanol.

Other optional ingredients such as perfumes, dyes, pigments, coloringagents and the like, if present, comprise from about 0.1% to 1.5% byweight of the compositions.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

The gel sticks of the present invention are made by combining theingredients in liquid form and pouring the mixture into a form havingthe desired shape. The present gel may be used as the gel portion of theantiperspirant sticks described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,879,May 13, 1980 to Shelton, incorporated herein by reference. A preferredantiperspirant stick is where the present gel forms a shell around theantiperspirant core.

COMPOSITION USE

The gel sticks herein are used by the consumer by rubbing the stick onthe area of the body where application is desired. In the case of adeodorant stick the stick is rubbed in the axilla area to apply thedeodorant agent.

EXAMPLES I-VIII

Given below are examples of compositions within the scope of the presentinvention. In addition, compositions containing similar materials aswell as one which does not contain an appropriate condensation productare shown.

    ______________________________________                                        Formulae:                                                                              I      II     III  IV   V    VI   VII  VIII                          ______________________________________                                        Ethanol  20.0   7.5    --   20.0 --   20.0 20.0 --                            Propylene                                                                              15.5   27.9   24.0 25.5 24.0 25.5 70.0 24.0                          Glycol                                                                        Fluid AP ®.sup.1                                                                   57.5   55.6   --   --   --   --   --   67.25                         Witconol --     --     67.25                                                                              47.5 --   --   --   --                            APM ®.sup.2                                                               Carbitol ®.sup.3                                                                   --     --     --   --   67.25                                                                              47.5 --   --                            Sodium   7.0    6.5    6.25 7.0  6.25 7.0  7.0  6.25                          Stearate                                                                      Misc.    --     2.5    2.5  --   2.5  --   3.0  2.5                           Set-up-time                                                                            2      9      35   45   38   17   30   8                             (Min.)                                                                        ______________________________________                                         .sup.1 Condensation product of one mole of butyl alcohol with 14 moles of     propylene oxide supplied by Union Carbide                                     .sup.2 Condensation product of one mole of myristyl alcohol with three        moles of propylene oxide supplied by Witco Chemical                           .sup.3 Condensation product of one mole of butyl alcohol with two moles o     ethylene oxide supplied by Union Carbide Corporation.                    

The above-mentioned compositions were made and poured into packages. Thepour temperature of the compositions was 190° F. in each case. Afterpouring, the units were allowed to set at room temperature until gel setup was observed.

GEL SET-UP TIME (DEFINITION):

The time necessary for the gel to set up to the point where there are novisible signs of exudation during trimming.

It is seen that the compositions containing Fluid AP® have significantlyshorter set-up times than do the other compositions. The shorter timesresult in easier gel processing.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cosmetic gel stick composition comprising:A.from about 6% to about 70% of an aliphatic, polyhydric alcohol havingfrom 2 to 3 carbon atoms and from 2 to 3 hydroxyl groups; B. from about3% to about 10% of a soap; and C. from about 20% to about 80% of acondensation product having the formula

    R(OC.sub.3 H.sub.6).sub.a (OC.sub.2 H.sub.4).sub.b OH

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen andhydrocarbon chains having from about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, a and bare each from about 0 to about 35 and a+b is from about 5 to about 35.2. A stick composition according to claim 1 which in addition containsfrom about 0.1% to about 1.0% of a deodorant material.
 3. A stickcomposition according to claim 2 wherein the level of polyhydric alcoholis from about 15% to about 70%, the level of soap is from about 4% toabout 8% and the level of the condensation product is from about 30% toabout 70%.
 4. A stick composition according to claim 3 wherein the soapis selected from the group consisting of a sodium salt and a potassiumsalt of a fatty acid containing from about 14 to about 18 carbon atomsand R in the condensation product is hydrocarbon chain having from about4 to about 18 carbon atoms.
 5. A stick composition according to claim 4which in addition contains a monohydric alcohol selected from the groupconsisting of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and n-propanol.
 6. A stickcomposition according to claim 4 wherein the polyhydric alcohol isselected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol,trimethylene glycol and glycerine.
 7. A stick composition according toclaim 6 wherein the soap is selected from the group consisting of sodiumstearate, sodium palmitate, sodium myristate, potassium stearate andpotassium palmitate.
 8. A stick composition according to claim 7 whereinthe polyhydric alcohol is propylene glycol.
 9. A stick compositionaccording to claim 8 wherein the soap is sodium stearate.
 10. A stickcomposition according to claim 9 wherein the condensation product is thereaction product of one mole of butyl alcohol with about 14 moles ofpropylene oxide.